Happy New Year!

Wishing you a wonderful 2013!!!

Button Advent Calendar

When I was little,  I was fascinated with my mom's collection of buttons.  She had them in an old coffee tin, and I'd spend so much time just looking at them, and playing with them.  All the different colors and textures were so beautiful.  I remember running my fingers through the buttons and they felt just like smooth wet stones.  I lost my mom 2 years ago, and I miss her everyday. I thought and thought about what I could do with this wonderful memory of buttons, that is so directly linked to her.

So I took things I had around the house.  My mom would have loved that, using what you already had.  She was a child of the Depression, and was very frugal.  A canvas drop cloth, old torn up quilt, an old hanger, and of course a bunch of vintage buttons.  An Advent Calendar was born!  The pockets each hold a button, that has an attached hook ready to hang.

 I found this old railroad nail with the number 25 on it.  Perfect for Christmas, now it's ready to hang.

Here it is with all the buttons on.  I still find them beautiful.

Three days of sewing later, it's done, hung up with an old hanger. I think my mom would have liked it.  

Take care,

Martha

Rudolph

But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?  Find him over at my website MJ Ornaments.  His nose glows with red glitter.  Thanks again to Karen over at the Graphics Fairy for another wonderful vintage image.
Take care,
Martha

Carlsbad Street Fair

Come join me for the Carlsbad Village Fair!  My booth is #323, on State Street.  
November 4th, 2012 / 8am-4pm 

Beautiful and balmy days in the coastal city of Carlsbad beckon you to the largest

one day street faire anywhere!

The Village Faire features over 850 unique vendors with a little of everything: arts & crafts, antiques, unique clothing, items from around the world, and more. Children’s rides, an international food center, and an old-fashioned pancake breakfast guarantee that you’ll find fun for the whole family!

Parking for this very popular event is limited, so visitors are encouraged to use the complimentary shuttles that run to and from the faire every 15 minutes. The shuttle pick-up locations are at the northwest corner of Sears at Westfield Shoppingtown Plaza Camino Real (Highway 78 and Jefferson) as well as at the Poinsettia Coaster Station (Poinsettia exit off of I-5).

Hope you can make it!
Martha

Glitterfest Fall 2012

Glitterfest is this Saturday, hope you can come!
~Martha

Banner

Happy October to you!  Had a great time making this banner, and am ready for the show season to begin!  First one is next Sunday Oct. 7th at Del Mar.  Hope to see you there!
Take care,
Martha

Godey's Lady's Book 1862

I wanted to share this image with you from the June edition of Godey's Lady's Book.  My mom gave it to me, and I thought I'd pass it on to you.  Click to enlarge, and enjoy!
Martha

Lady Letters

 Happy Labor Day to you!  I wanted to share what I've been working on.  These are new lady letters, and I'll have a different design for each letter of the alphabet.  Featuring old Victorian fashion plates in the background.

Surrounded with silver glitter, and soldered to beveled glass.  So much fun to create!
Take care,
Martha

Getting Ready

Just a couple of ornaments I've been working on.  Getting ready for loads of shows in October, you can check out my Facebook Page to see when they are.  Hope the end of your summer is going well!
Take care,
Martha

Steampunk Cross

 Hi and welcome!  I've put my soldering iron away for a bit, and picked up the old watch parts to put together a few steampunk crosses.  

  It's been way too hot to solder, so thought it was the perfect time to mix up some resin.  It seems to cure a lot quicker in the heat.

 After making this one, I saw tiny watch parts in my vision after closing my eyes.  Takes hours of work, but I think it was worth it.  What do you think?

Have you embraced the whole steampunk style?  Check out my Pinterest board for more cool steampunk pics.

Take care,
Martha

Butterfly Mobile DIY

 Don't you love butterflies?  I sure do, and what could be better than a butterfly mobile.  Want to make one?  Well, here's how.

First you want to gather a few items.  A mobile hanger, I got mine at Amazon here.  Some clear thread, I got it in the craft area in Walmart.  Looks kind of like fishing wire, but thinner.  A pretty beefy needle to thread it with, and some pretty butterflies of course.  I got the butterflies at Floraltrims.   They're made out of satin paper, and look real.

Here are the ones I bought, and these are made from photographs from real butterflies.

Take your needle double knot it, and thread through the fuzzy part of the butterfly with your clear thread.  You need to center it pretty well so it hangs well.  I left about a foot of threader more to work with.

After you put together your mobile, find a place to hang it.  I used one of those little screws with a hook, and screwed it into the ceiling.  Then I started to mess with hanging the butterflies.  This mobile has perfect little circles to thread the butterflies through.  I used different lengths of thread, so they'd hang at different heights.  String them up with a few knots, and you've got yourself your own mobile!

The fun part too is, you can choose your own colors.  Floral trims has a lot to choose from.
Let me know if you try this, and pop over to my FB page at MJ Ornaments, and share your photos, I'd love to see them!
Take care,
Martha

p.s. don't use this over a baby's crib, I'd be too afraid one could be pulled off, or fall off.

Color

 I'm trying to embrace more color in my life, so I've been making these pretties.  Love the old fashioned bathing suits.

 Beautiful bohemian butterflies.  

When life is hard, it's nice to retreat to beautiful things and color can help make you feel happy.  You can find these up on my website.  

Love,

Martha

New Charm & Carlsbad Street Faire

Hi!  Thanks for popping by.  Here's a new charm hot off the soldering iron.  It's been fun colorizing these old photos of ladies on the beach.  I just love their outfits.
If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, I'll be in Carlsbad, CA on Sunday for the annual street fair.  It's the biggest in the whole country!  I'll be there from 8 (gulp) until 5.  Find my booth by the Witch creek winery, at the top of the hill where Carlsbad Blvd. and Grand meet.  Hope to see you there!
Take care,
Martha

Bathing Beauties

Love the old fashioned suits they used to wear in 1917.  Don't you wish they were still in fashion?  Then maybe I'd wear a bathing suit again.

I colorized the suits of these lovely ladies, and think they look pretty cute.  You can check them out here. at my we site MJ Ornaments.  I sure am looking forward to summer, aren't you?
Take care,
Martha

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has definitely Sprung here in So Cal!  I've been inspired to create some nature ornaments, and came up with the one above last week.  Don't you think the mother bird deserved a crown for all the hard work she does?
I'll be in Encinitas next Sat. the 28th for a street fair, so come out and enjoy if you live nearby.
Hope you're doing well, and have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Martha

Happy Easter

 Wanted to share my little bunny pot, he seems to be getting buried in clover.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter this weekend!
Take care,
Martha

Glitterfest Tomorrow!

I hope you can join me tomorrow for Glitterfest!  It's an amazing show, held in Santa Ana, CA.  Handmade goodies abound, and you'll be sure to find something to hang in your house or around your neck.  I'll be at the first table when you walk in the building, so be sure to come over and say hi.  Can't wait to see you!
Take care,
Martha

Steam punk vs. Bling...which do you prefer?

 Hope you're doing well, and thanks for dropping in.  I'm working on some new tiny charms with bling.

 I've added some Swarovski crystal drops on the bottom.  What do you think?

I've also got a plate of steam punk pendants going.  I really like the industrial look of steam punk, and also girly girl thing with bling, do you?  Maybe someday I'll combine the two.

Next Saturday is Glitterfest, and I'll be there from 10-4.  It's in Santa Ana, CA, so if you can make it, I'd love to see you.
Take care,
Martha